Howard's reputation continues to go from strength to strength, but I've been surprised to see Cameron on the periphery of Mark Hughes's plans at Stoke so far this season.

I can remember first seeing Cameron play as a commanding central defender. The next time I encountered him he was an impressive midfield technician for the Houston Dynamo in the MLS during the 2010 season.

What most caught my eye was that he was one of the few players in the league who had the ability to control the tempo of a game.

Subsequently I have also seen him perform at right-back and as a centre-forward, both to good effect.

When I was contacted by John Rudge, Stoke's former director of football, who already had Cameron on his compendium of players, I said without hesitation that if he could get him for the £2m being quoted to do it.

My one reservation about Geoff wasn't anything to do with his playing ability or anything to do his temperament to deal with all the challenges of the English game.

The thing that worried me most was his versatility.

Sometimes being able to do too many jobs in a team can be your downfall because you never nail down one specific place or role. We all know the saying about being a jack of all trades…

That said, on the occasions that I saw Stoke play last season, Cameron was one of the most consistent performers while playing in an unfamiliar right-back position. In the end it is probably the fact right-back is not his specialist position which has ultimately cost him his place in the team to new signing Phil Bardsley, who would be viewed as a bona fide full-back

To get back into the team, the focus for Cameron must now be on either a central defensive or midfield role, but knowing he will have to bide his time before the opportunity arises.

At the age of 29, Cameron is in the prime of his career and will be desperate to get more time on the pitch as opposed to sitting on the substitutes' bench.

He will also need to feel he has the confidence and trust of the manager if he is going to be able to perform at his best whenever he does play.

There are conflicting rumours out there as to whether the USA international has officially handed in a transfer request or not.

What seems certain, though, is that there is a list of clubs interested in his services, with teams from the USA, Germany, Italy and within the English Premier League all in the mix were he to be available.

It will be disappointing if he ends up leaving the club after only two seasons because I truly believe the Stoke fans have not seen the best of Geoff Cameron

For the player, he needs to decide where the next chapter of his career is going to be.

Personally I would like to see him stay at Stoke and get the chance to show his full abilities in the positions he prefers. But the harsh reality of life at the top is that the manager might not fancy you and it becomes time to move on.

The game here in America is growing in participation and attendance.

And with players like young full-back Deandre Yedlin of Seattle Sounders, who is joining Tottenham at the turn of the year, it could be the start of an MLS migration to England.

For Cameron, however progressive the game is over here, a return to America should not be on his mind yet. He has some unfinished business in the Premier League to deal with first.

4 comments

Azula, there is no doubt that Cameron is and has been misused, yes, imagine that at Stoke City. There is good reason his name has come up in transfer rumours for many teams, they see his talents and they see him being unused on the bench, while we suffer through Sidwell and Ireland. Maybe he does go to Hughes and say i want to play and suggest that nothing is happening with who is playing in front of me.

Every player has to fight for his place in a team, that's the nature of the game.
What do you suggest he does Azula, confront the boss and tell him he is insulted? tell his fellow players? That should do team morale good!